New ‘Bermuda Triangle’ Landmark Planned
The Bermuda Tourism Authority is recruiting local artists and architects to create a “fun, interactive and iconic” Bermuda Triangle landmark at Clearwater Beach, according to a Request for Proposal document posted online today.
“The Bermuda Triangle is a defining feature of Bermuda’s brand identity now so this effort is about further leveraging the triangle to set us apart from competing travel destinations,” said Pat Phillip-Fairn, chief product and experiences development officer.
“When fully executed we believe this new landmark will drive camera-carrying visitors to Clearwater Beach where they can create social media moments that help further promote Bermuda to the world.”
“Clearwater Beach is one of five local beaches in the Bermuda Tourism Authority’s Beach Economy Vision. The goal of the beaches strategy is to enhance the experiences of beach-goers, increase visitor spending in the beach economy and create an environment for job creation,” the BTA said.
“Additionally each of the five beaches has an identity. At Clearwater Beach the beach’s identity appeals to young families and those who enjoy eco-adventures. The successful submission should align on those characteristics and be respectful of and sensitive to the environment.”
The Request for Proposal document says: “The RFP is inviting submissions from the community to design an iconic structure to be located at Clearwater Beach that is consistent with the area’s lure as an eco-adventure for visitors.
“The expectation for this structure is that it quickly becomes one of the island’s most sought landmarks in the east end, in addition to iconic historical sites such as St. David’s Lighthouse or the Unfinished Church. The final product will be artistic, interactive and original, and most importantly, it will leverage the Bermuda Triangle, an attribute that sets Bermuda apart as a visitor destination.”
The deadline for submissions is May 3, 2017, but those intending to submit must notify the Bermuda Tourism Authority by email before April 7, 2017. A map in the RFP details the area the Department of Planning has designated as suitable for this kind of structure.
A panel of judges, which includes representatives from the list below, will determine the successful applicant:
- Bermuda Tourism Authority
- Institute of Bermuda Architects
- BEST
- Local art community
- Hub 1: St. George’s and St. David’s Island
- Department of Public Lands and Buildings
- Bermuda Land Development Corporation
- Department of Planning
The full Bermuda Triangle Structure RFP is below [PDF here]
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2 Things
1. This is genius
2. How are tourist going to see it if there is no bus running out to the beach anymore and they have to walk a mile, discouraging people from even going if they don’t have a moped or money for a taxi?
Oops – somehow replied to the wrong message!
Let’s try that again…
2 replies:
1. Glad you like it.
2. Totally agree – getting bus service that last 500 metres is another part of the same plan for Clearwater.
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You are so right with your comment…Mr Butterfield
Clearwater Beach is often seen as a locals only beach,which it isn’t,but that’s the perception of many tourists.
BTA will have to work very hard with local hotels and people to change this.
That’s the whole point of doing more to bring people there!
You want to put some interactive Bermuda Triangle landmark in the middle of Cooper’s Island Reserve which is one of the few places left to see what the island used to look like. How many locals have been past Clearwater Beach in past 20 years. Triangle interest isn’t near what it was 20 years ago. It would have made more sense to do NASA landmark instead of ruining a nature preserve, even US Armed Forces kept that area pristine.
US did not keep it pristine, they bulldozed old tar barrels and metal along with construction debris into the bay near the moto-x track, facing Nonsuch and god knows what else is buried around the area with the decrepit buildings, old fuel tanks, pipe work and rusty fencing all over the place. They concreted about 2 acres for a water catchment too. Throw a few old planes and shipwrecks around, a few rides, and you have your Ber Tri theme park.
The area by moto-track was cleared after the Navy left, the debris could have been there before or after. From NASA pad to end of Cooper’s Island was protected and there were remnants of an old gun emplacement the Brits put in there to protect Castle Harbour. There are small caves, natural or man made that had doors and most were found to have been there before US built Kindley.
What are the negatives to a “local’s beach” that would put visitors off? Do most of Bermuda’s visitors look for fenced-off private enclaves when it comes to beaches?
What are they willing to spend?
Quick suggestion…
Firstly I love the idea. Many other destinations have something similar. However clear water beach in my opinion should not be the place for it. With limited access by bus and ferry how do we expect tourists to get there? I’m assuming the thought is by taxi. Not bashing the Taxi association but the rates are crazy high. Moreover when the tourists get to clear water there are poor facilities limited food (if any) and a lack of beach rental equipment. May I suggest two other locations being either tobacco bay (increase visitor numbers in St. George’s) or Horseshoe Bay having been renovated for the past X number of weeks and months.
The location would be much better if it were on Albouys Point. Make it easily accessible, not difficult. Some things have to be where they have to be.
If there is one thing that visitors ask about more than anything else it is the Bermuda Triangle. We have never capitalised on it. There should be hundreds of “I survived the Bermuda” souveniers. You are hard pressed to find a single one.
Were it not for aliens Roswell New Mexico would cease to exist yet Bermuda does nothing to promote the mystery of an area that carries our name.
2 replies:
1. Glad you like it.
2. Totally agree – getting bus service that last 500 metres is another part of the same plan for Clearwater.
We agree; the Bermuda Tourism Authority is all about ‘embracing the triangle”. Whether we like it or not, it’s what people associate most with Bermuda (at least those who haven’t been here). But more importantly, it gives us a certain mystique we should be proud of.
Horseshoe Bay would be a better location if you want word of mouth through tourists to spread your message. Something like they have at the end of the Keys in Florida for the southern most point of the US. You could have a huge Triangle sculpture at the entrance to the beach and have an enscription on the plaque saying “The Famous Bermuda Triangle, The Mystery Starts Here.”
Ha. Nice idea. But you’ve never had to work with the Parks Commission. At Horsehsoe Bay they’re in charge, at Clearwater the Parks Commission is circumvented. Gotta travel the road you’re on versus the one you’d like to travel.
the parks commission can soon be straightened out,
they are NOT in charge,
they just think they are Large and in charge!
How sad that we have come to such a low point in our national trajectory and our sense of ourselves that we have to stoop to this sort of tacky, meaningless nonsense. Please do not disfigure a beautiful part of the island for this.
But isn’t Clearwater facing the wrong way? If you’re serious about doing something related to the triangle, it should face the open ocean where the triangle is supposed to exist – South/South West of Bermuda, not North East.
I’m no architect or artist but for what my opinion is worth, I would suggest that we create a waterslide similar to those at Wet ‘n’ Wild in Orlando, Florida called the Bermuda Triangle. It’ll be something that will be unique to Clear Water beach encouraging visitors and locals alike to go the extra mile and visit.
The Bermuda Triangle ride can be designed to send the rider down a tube round and round in an increasingly tight circle before ejecting them into a misty watery bowl designed to look like a ship wreck.
Think that would be a lot of fun and offer something different for our visitors to enjoy
Why aren’t they marketing this as the “Ber Tri”?